Palmer leads Nicklaus 2-0 in send-offs

Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 12:00 a.m.

Forgive me if I didn't get all choked up about Arnold Palmer's farewell at the Masters. I meant no disrespect.

I guess I just don't quite believe that it actually was Palmer's last round at Augusta National.

Two years ago, I was on those hallowed grounds when Arnie said he was through. I got caught up in emotion, measured the historical significance and documented it with as much skill as I could muster.

I felt truly honored to be there, to talk with the legend himself under that old oak tree in front of the clubhouse. If your heart was beating at all, you had to feel tears well up as he walked up 18 for the final time, an adoring crowd providing a fitting tribute.

When it was over, Palmer climbed into a white Mercedes Benz, rode down Magnolia Lane and was gone.

Then he was back.

Palmer returned last week for another farewell.

So for me, this was a watered-down repeat of something that could not be more special. Been there, done that. I had built up calluses the second time.

My own selfishness aside, nobody could blame Palmer for a repeat performance. He still feels love from his fans, but nothing like he does on his good-bye tours at Augusta.

So why not do it again?

The Masters is not about playing competitively anymore for the 74-year-old Palmer. He hasn't made a cut there since 1983. No, for him and his army, it's about stirring up memories.

"It's fun reminiscing and looking back," he said.

And there's nothing wrong with that. Palmer missed a 4-foot putt Friday at No. 18 and nobody, probably not even him, much cared.

I don't believe Palmer can let go or that he should. If he's not playing golf with at least the thought of being in the Masters, he's not really playing golf.

Palmer said 2002 would be his last Masters because he didn't want to get a letter from Hootie Johnson. At that time, Johnson was telling some former champions to give it up, as if he had the personal right to decide that.

Johnson was persuaded to change his mind, with public pressure from Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. So Palmer came back for his 50th Masters, saying he would end on that milestone.

But 50 is just a number, just like 74 is just a number. Fifty-one and 75 are perfectly good numbers as well.

My only question is what this means for Nicklaus, an equally great Masters legend who may not get the proper send-off.

From afar, I get the feeling that Nicklaus wanted Palmer to step away when he said he would.

"I wouldn't bet on it," Nicklaus said when asked if he thought Palmer was actually retiring from the Masters. "I think you all know Arnold well enough. How many times has he said it's his last one?"

Nicklaus was paired with Palmer two years ago and it was a thrill for people like me who had never seen them play together in person. But Nicklaus said he was tired of it. He wanted to play with the younger guys. To him, the pairing meant that nobody thought he actually had a chance to win.

After missing the cut, Nicklaus hinted that he may not be back.

I believe that Nicklaus, even though he denies it, wants the same adoring send-off Palmer has now received twice. Ten years the younger, Nicklaus thinks that Palmer should be the one to leave first.

<p>Forgive me if I didn't get all choked up about Arnold Palmer's farewell at the Masters. I meant no disrespect.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>I guess I just don't quite believe that it actually was Palmer's last round at Augusta National.</p><p>Two years ago, I was on those hallowed grounds when Arnie said he was through. I got caught up in emotion, measured the historical significance and documented it with as much skill as I could muster.</p><p>I felt truly honored to be there, to talk with the legend himself under that old oak tree in front of the clubhouse. If your heart was beating at all, you had to feel tears well up as he walked up 18 for the final time, an adoring crowd providing a fitting tribute.</p><p>When it was over, Palmer climbed into a white Mercedes Benz, rode down Magnolia Lane and was gone.</p><p>Then he was back.</p><p>Palmer returned last week for another farewell.</p><p>So for me, this was a watered-down repeat of something that could not be more special. Been there, done that. I had built up calluses the second time.</p><p>My own selfishness aside, nobody could blame Palmer for a repeat performance. He still feels love from his fans, but nothing like he does on his good-bye tours at Augusta.</p><p>So why not do it again?</p><p>The Masters is not about playing competitively anymore for the 74-year-old Palmer. He hasn't made a cut there since 1983. No, for him and his army, it's about stirring up memories.</p><p>"It's fun reminiscing and looking back," he said.</p><p>And there's nothing wrong with that. Palmer missed a 4-foot putt Friday at No. 18 and nobody, probably not even him, much cared.</p><p>I don't believe Palmer can let go or that he should. If he's not playing golf with at least the thought of being in the Masters, he's not really playing golf.</p><p>Palmer said 2002 would be his last Masters because he didn't want to get a letter from Hootie Johnson. At that time, Johnson was telling some former champions to give it up, as if he had the personal right to decide that.</p><p>Johnson was persuaded to change his mind, with public pressure from Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. So Palmer came back for his 50th Masters, saying he would end on that milestone.</p><p>But 50 is just a number, just like 74 is just a number. Fifty-one and 75 are perfectly good numbers as well.</p><p>My only question is what this means for Nicklaus, an equally great Masters legend who may not get the proper send-off.</p><p>From afar, I get the feeling that Nicklaus wanted Palmer to step away when he said he would.</p><p>"I wouldn't bet on it," Nicklaus said when asked if he thought Palmer was actually retiring from the Masters. "I think you all know Arnold well enough. How many times has he said it's his last one?"</p><p>Nicklaus was paired with Palmer two years ago and it was a thrill for people like me who had never seen them play together in person. But Nicklaus said he was tired of it. He wanted to play with the younger guys. To him, the pairing meant that nobody thought he actually had a chance to win.</p><p>After missing the cut, Nicklaus hinted that he may not be back.</p><p>I believe that Nicklaus, even though he denies it, wants the same adoring send-off Palmer has now received twice. Ten years the younger, Nicklaus thinks that Palmer should be the one to leave first.</p><p>Todd Shanesy can be reached at 562-7273 or todd.shanesy@shj.com.</p>